Noxiouz shares the process behind ‘The Catalyst’, in which he not only created a new album and a new live set, but also organized his own event. According to the artist, the album represents a change in his music. With his dark melodies and a lower bpm, he hopes to make uptempo hardcore more accessible.
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“The Catalyst represents the change in my music.”
Noxiouz says that the idea for the album was born when he listened to some of his songs in 2025. “I noticed that the kicks, the leads, and the arrangements were changing,” which, according to the artist, gave rise to the idea of creating an album to establish that new Noxiouz sound.
“I’m really into chemistry, of course,” the artist says. “And in English, ‘The Catalyst’ is the chemical term for transformation. So for Noxiouz, The Catalyst represents a new phase in my music.”
New sound
According to Noxiouz, his new sound is a lot more accessible than his old sound. Although the dark vibes we know the artist for are certainly present on the album, a lower bpm, more storytelling, and more melodies create a less extreme sound. “You can really hear the new Noxiouz sound in the anthem track,” he says. “This record is completely in line with the theme and story of The Catalyst.” There are also more in-depth storytelling songs on the album. In tracks such as “Anxiety,” the artist shares the fear and pressure he experiences. “Other people struggle with that too, so I think it’s cool to share those kinds of personal things.”
More than just an album
The album contains 15 tracks, most of which are solo projects. A number of tracks have already been released, but we can definitely expect 7 to 8 unreleased tracks. But besides a new album, Noxiouz has also organized a new live show and his own event, both named ‘The Catalyst’.
The new live show naturally features new music, but a lot has also been done in terms of visuals and special effects to complement the show. Noxiouz also says that he is preparing something special for each Catalyst set, but he doesn’t want to reveal what that is just yet.
In honor of the album, the artist is organizing a Noxiouz: The Catalyst event in Tivoli Vredenburg together with BKJN. The event will take place on March 7, where the artist will not only premiere The Catalyst Live, but also play a set vs. Lekkerfaces and pay tribute to the past with a one-off Noxiouz classics set.
2026 will be another big year
After a very impressive 2025, the artist already has quite an impressive schedule ahead of him for the coming year. He will be the first solo uptempo artist to close the main stage of REBiRTH Festival on Sunday. He won’t be doing this with just any set, but with the second performance of The Catalyst Live. In addition, after hosting the Dynamite stage at Intents last year, he has another hosting gig lined up for this year. Noxiouz and The Dark Horror will be hosting the Dynamite together on the Sunday of Intents.
Pictures by: Noxiouz
